Crack cocaine hit the streets of Berkeley County in May 2017, and Samione Monay Jones helped push it. The 31-year-old Martinsburg woman was sentenced today to three years probation after admitting her role in the sale and distribution of the drug, federal prosecutors confirmed.
Jones pled guilty in January 2019 to one count of “Aiding and Abetting Distribution of Cocaine Base ‘Crack,’” a charge stemming from a controlled transaction that month. Court records show she knowingly participated in the sale of crack cocaine, fueling the addiction crisis that has ravaged communities across West Virginia’s Eastern Panhandle.
The case was handled by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney C. Lydia Lehman, who works jointly with the Berkeley County Prosecutor’s Office. Prosecutors built their case with evidence gathered by the Eastern Panhandle Drug & Violent Crimes Task Force, a HIDTA-funded unit targeting high-impact narcotics operations.
Drug Enforcement Administration resources and federal grant funding drive the task force’s operations, which focus on dismantling networks responsible for flooding neighborhoods with deadly substances. Crack, a cheap but highly addictive form of cocaine, has seen a resurgence in rural markets, often tied to violent crime and property theft.
U.S. Attorney Bill Powell emphasized that no amount of drug distribution goes unnoticed. “Whether it’s a single sale or a sprawling network, we’re holding people accountable,” Powell said. “This sentence sends a message: participation is complicity.”
Chief U.S. District Judge Gina M. Groh presided over the sentencing in Martinsburg. While Jones avoided prison time, her three-year probation term includes strict conditions, including drug testing and community service, as federal and local authorities continue their crackdown on open-air drug markets.
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- Charleston Crack Dealer Terrance Wilson Gets 5.5 Years · West Virginia
- Bertram Sentenced for Crack Cocaine · West Virginia
- David Smeltzer Admits to Heroin Distribution in Berkeley County · West Virginia
Key Facts
- State: West Virginia
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking
- Source: Official Source ↗
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